CHARGE BLOWS OUT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19124, 19 September 1936, Page 8

CHARGE BLOWS OUT

TWO TONS OP GELIGNITE COTTAGE WRECKED WORKSHOPS 'D AM AC ED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last; night. A small crowd of spectators at Smeed's quarry on the edge of tho Waikato River above Tuakau, who had assembled to witness the tiring of a two-ton charge of gelignite this afternoon, saw a far more spectacular sight than they had expected. The charge "blew out" and, in addition to the fall of a large expanse of rock below the cliff, a considerable quantity of rock was hurled through the air as if fired from a gigantic gun. A. three-roomed cottage, the home of one of the quarry workmen, which was situated about 200 yards from the cliff face, collapsed beneath the terrific bombardment, of rock. The quarry workshops, standing a little further back, were damaged extensively, a shed in front being completely wrecked. A big building, housing a. valuable crushing plant, was pierced by the falling rock, numerous gaping holes being torn in the roof and walls, which are of corrugated iron. SPECTATORS WELL CLEAR A motor truck parked near the workshops suffered to the extent that it, looked as if someone had attempted to demolish it with a sledgehammer. Water spurted from a storage tank that was so riddled with holes as to resemble a. seive. Luckily all those present were well away from the danger zone. A number of hens which were scratching about in front of the cottage prior to the explosion were not so fortunate. Out of about 20, only two survived, many being completely buried, while the mangled remains of others were strewn in all directions. The damage suffered by |.ho company's plant was not so great as at' ! first appeared probable. A valuable I electric motor was unharmed and other machinery also escaped serious damage. The workman's cottage, j however, was reduced to matchwood, and the furniture, crockery and clothing formed a tangled mass of wreckage. The contents were not insured. Very little was salvaged in tin .undamaged condition.